Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1:26 p.m.

Center Patric Young will return for his senior season, Florida confirmed Monday.

Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun

The 6-foot-9, 247-pound Young averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds as a junior with a team-high 58 blocked shots. Young said his main reasons to return are to finish his degree in Telecommunications and to play for Florida coach Billy Donovan.

“These first three years have gone by in a flash, and I can't believe it is my senior year already,” Young said in a UF release. “I have gotten better as a player and better as a man at the University of Florida.

“I believe God has my future in his hands, so all I am worried about now is getting better this summer and making it the hardest I have trained in my life.”

With Young back, Florida returns two starters from a team that finished 29-8 overall and reached the Elite Eight for the third straight season. Starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin and forwards Will Yeguete and Casey Prather also will be back for their senior season.

“We're excited that Patric will continue with us for his senior season,” Donovan said. “This was Patric's decision to make, and he ultimately had to do what he felt was best for himself and his future.”

Young was projected as a second-round NBA Draft pick in several mock draft sites. The website Draftexpress.com had Young going 38th overall to the Memphis Grizzlies, while the site NBAdraft.net had Young projected as the 53rd overall pick to the Washington Wizards.

<p>Florida center Patric Young confirmed Monday that he will return for his senior season.</p><p>The 6-foot-9, 247-pound Young averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds as a junior with a team-high 58 blocked shots. Young said his main reasons to return are to finish his degree in Telecommunications and to play for Florida coach Billy Donovan. </p><p>“These first three years have gone by in a flash, and I can't believe it is my senior year already,” Young said in a UF release. “I have gotten better as a player and better as a man at the University of Florida.</p><p>“I believe God has my future in his hands, so all I am worried about now is getting better this summer and making it the hardest I have trained in my life.”</p><p>With Young back, Florida returns two starters from a team that finished 29-8 overall and reached the Elite Eight for the third straight season. Starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin and forwards Will Yeguete and Casey Prather also will be back for their senior season. </p><p>“We're excited that Patric will continue with us for his senior season,” Donovan said. “This was Patric's decision to make, and he ultimately had to do what he felt was best for himself and his future.”</p><p>Young was projected as a second-round NBA Draft pick in several mock draft sites. The website Draftexpress.com had Young going 38th overall to the Memphis Grizzlies, while the site NBAdraft.net had Young projected as the 53rd overall pick to the Washington Wizards. </p><p>With Young back, Florida projects to have a deeper frontline next season. Along with Young, Florida adds 6-10 Damontre Harris (transfer, South Carolina), 6-10 incoming freshman Chris Walker and 6-8 forward Dorian Finney-Smith (transfer, Virginia Tech).</p><p>Young made the All-SEC defensive team as a junior and earned SEC men's basketball scholar-athlete of the year honors for the second straight season. He holds a 3.38 grade-point average.</p><p>Contact Kevin Brockway at 352-374-5054 or brockwk@gvillesun.com. Also check out Brockway's blog at Gatorsports.com.</p>